Ottawa Street double fatality ruled as murder-suicide: Hamilton police

New details have emerged surrounding the deaths of a man and woman at an Ottawa Street apartment.

Last week, a heavy police presence occupied part of the busy textile hub near Roxborough Avenue for several hours.

Investigators cordoned off the building at 112 Ottawa Street North and said they had found two bodies.

READ MORE: Police investigate double fatality on Ottawa Street in Hamilton

On Monday, the department revealed that a 77-year-old resident, identified as Barbara Church, was stabbed to death inside her home and that a second person, 51-year-old Derek Emmons, died as the result of a self-inflicted injury there as well.

Detectives say the man lived in the unit next to hers but added that they were not known to each other.

Last Thursday, Hamilton police were called to the unit for a well-being check after neighbours reported that they hadn’t seen one of the residents in several days and that attempts to reach them had been unsuccessful.

Emergency crews arrived on the scene, and local firefighters had to force their way inside the unit as the front and back doors were both barricaded from within.

Following the tragic discovery, police say they have made attempts to contact Church’s family but have not been able to locate any next of kin.

“It’s really hard to find a motive with no information …  with regards to a prior relationship or any kind of tension between the two, it’s really hard to find a motive,” Det. Sgt. Frank De Vuono said.

“I am hoping through review of the digital evidence we will be able to find something and be able to give the victim’s [family] an idea … of why this happened.”

Police could not comment on exactly how Emmons committed suicide and say that they do not believe there are any additional suspects related to this incident.

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